Chapter 9

October first is always Threshing.

Any day of the week, it doesn't matter where it falls on any given year. 

On the first of October, all first year cadets enter the bowl-shaped valley to be either killed by a dragon or a fellow cadet, or be chosen and bonded by a dragon.

I will not die today. 

I just hope that the orange swordtail comes for me.

"Remember to listen here," Professor Kaori says from in front of the 147 of us here, tapping his chest. "If a dragon has already chosen, they will be calling. Trust your gut. If you feel drawn to a specific way, go that way. If you have the feeling you are going the wrong way, change directions."

I listen to the rest of his talk, about not staying in groups, and about if you are not chosen by nightfall then the professors will get you out.

What happens if the orange doesn't find me, or chooses a more worthy rider?

"All I can say is good luck," Kaori says, before leaving.

Guessing by the position of the sun, it's been hours since the dragons flew in.

I've been following a distant call from a dragon. The call has gone nonstop since they flew in, allowing me to follow.

I've already encountered a green daggertail and a red clubtail. When I saw the green, I knew it was not my dragon.

But the red. It lifted it's head at me, before snorting and walking off. 

I hope that this is the orange's call. That I haven't spent all these hours walking the woods for nothing.

I hug the tree I'm against.

I'm trying to avoid other cadets at all costs. 

I hear a screech and my head whips around.

I spot another green approaching a cadet. Is that... Rhiannon?

Rhiannon just smiles and bows her head. After a minute, her head flips up, a stunned expression on her face. She gets on the back of the dragon and shoots upwards into the sky.

I move on, following the call. It's getting louder, slowly but surely.

I gasp.

There, in a clearing filled with sun, is the orange.

My orange.

I smile, relieved, before bowing my head, not moving a muscle.

The orange's eyes swivel towards me and it brushes me with its snout.

A blast of steam comes out of it's nostrils.

Fuck, I'm toast.

"You are not toast, Rutherglennea Melgren. You are my rider."  A male voice rumbles in my head.

What the fuck. "You can hear me?"

"Of course I can. Now get on my back."

I look up the giant orange's frame, towering over me by at least 29ft. "You're a little... big."

The dragon seems to sigh, before lowering his belly to the ground. His wingtips touch the ground. 

I run up his wings like a ramp and climb onto his back.

"My name is Lasair. I descend from the mighty Arphrodilnor line. Now hold on, Dark One."

I grip Lasair's scales and press my legs against his sides.

He launches off the ground, his massive wings beating in the air. 

The wind pushes me back, but I grip Lasair's scales as hard as I can, my knuckles turning white.

Lasair's body swerves up, and for a second I'm upside down.

I grit my teeth, my heart beating.

"Did you have to do that loopty-loop?" 

"Yes."

But instead of flying to the flight field, he flies over the valley just above the trees, as if looking for someone.

Lasair screeches and dives.

He lands in a wider clearing.

I slide off his wing.

There, fighting against Jack Barlowe, Tynan and Oren, is Violet.

I sprint over, drawing my axes.

I leap next to Violet. She gives me a grateful look before charging at Oren.

I glance behind me. Fuck. She's defending the feathertail.

I run towards Tynan.

"What are you doing here, Melgren," he spats, drawing his shortsword.

"Stopping you from killing an innocent dragon," I growl.

Tynan charges, bringing down his shortsword. I dive and roll out of the way.

I swing my axe at his leg, but it clangs against his shortsword. He uses his strength to drag it back up, pushing me backwards.

I whip my head as I hear the golden feathertail let out a cry. Hopefully it's calling for help.

Lasair steps forward with an orange leg, a growl in his throat.

"I can handle this." I tell him.

Tynan's sword manages to shove mine away.

"Ruth!" I hear a scream. I whip my head. Liam's terrified eyes meet mine.

Suddenly a shooting pain. I look down. Tynan's sword has cut open my chest. Not too deep, but a waterfall of blood streams from it all the same. Pain sears through me. I let out a pained, strangled scream.

His sword comes at me again. This time, my axe goes up. I barely manage to hold him back.

But a burst of adrenaline comes.

I drive back, the muscles in my arms tightening as I hold his sword back from slicing into me again.

I flip the axe over so the blade is facing him and push as hard as I can. He stumbles back and I take the chance, cutting right below his knee fully off.

He screams and falls over, clutching the part where the rest of his leg used to be.

I let out one last primal shriek before chopping off his head.

I hear a yell and turn around to Violet and Jack, Jack holding his arm.

"She's done something to it! I can't move it!" He shrieks.

I see Violet smirk. Then, Jack runs away.

Suddenly wingbeats fill the air.

Two dragons enter the clearing.

A black morningstar. The dragon Jack was wanting to approach in Dragonkind.

And a blue one. Dark blue like a sapphire. It looks exactly like my drawing from Battle Brief. The same bright golden eyes with tinges of red. The same long, swiveling horns. 

Its bright golden eyes meet mine. It blinks once, twice.

Its mouth opens, a jet of fire incinerating Oren.

Lasair walks over to the blue dragon and presses his snout to hers.

"You."  The feminine voice resonates in my head. "You're mine."

"What...?" I whisper. I turn to Violet, who's eyes are fixated on the black dragon. Her eyes widen and the black dragon lowers his stomach like Lasair and Violet climbs onto his enormous back, gripping his scales, and they shoot up.

My gaze goes to where Liam was during my fight with Tynan. He is still standing there, staring at my chest. I remember that I'm wounded and look down. Blood is covering me like body paint.

"Why did you speak to me? I thought dragons only talk to their riders?" I ask, directed at the blue dragon.

"You are my rider."